UNHCR's only lifetime goodwill ambassador, soprano Barbara Hendricks, has visited a camp in northern Burkina Faso to raise awareness about the plight of tens of thousands of Malian refugees in Africa’s Sahel region and to help raise funds for UNHCR’s relief operations there.
The conflict in Mali has forced almost 200,000 people to seek refugee in neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso (65,000), Niger (42,400) and Mauritania (88,800). Another 159,000 are displaced within Mali.
“Malian refugees have fled the worst and are trying to rebuild their lives in camps or settlements,” said Hendricks, adding that her visit was aimed at bringing “their fears and their anxieties to the press, to public opinion and to those who will decide whether to help aid agencies like UNHCR.”
To read the full account of Barbara’s visit, click here.
